I had spent hours picking my way through the barren landscape leading to Ares’s lair. Avoiding the lava flows and pitfalls that scarred the hellish valley that was home to Olympus’s vilest deity was half the battle. The other half was descending into the dark cave that lay at the center of it all, silently awaiting its next victim. When I reached its entrance, I didn’t slow my pace, but steeled myself for whatever horrors lay beyond.

Inside the stone walls, the dark was so complete I thought I might be able to touch it. I gave thanks to Artemis for my night vision and continued along a well-worn path through the rock, keeping my back to the wall as I went. The air was thick with sulfur. Pained moans from somewhere in the earth deep below me cut through the air at intervals. I felt as if I were descending into the very mouth of Hades, which wasn’t far from the truth.

After several minutes of pushing through the black, I found a set of steps carved into the stone, which spiraled down into the ground at a harsh angle.

Hanging in the center of the spiral stair were scores of bodies—immortals who’d been decapitated and left as a warning. Their bodies were riddled with arrows and cuts, clearly tortured before their souls had been released into Elysium or Hades. I’d expected brutality, but being confronted with it like this made my stomach churn, what little food I had in me threatening to splash all over the black steps.

The stench was nearly unbearable as I hurried down into the abyss.

When I finally saw the bottom, instead of relief, an overwhelming dread flowed through my veins. The thought of having my immortal life snuffed out in what seemed like a serial killer’s basement didn’t strike me as the way I wanted to go. My foot on the bottom step, I hesitated. I could still go back and live instead of dying here.

“Go back to what? A life of regret and loneliness. Never,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves and shut off my self-preservation inner commentary.

I took the final step and started down a hallway lined with red candles that gave only a slight light to my steps. The walls oozed some sort of black gunge, and I didn’t even want to know what it was. Entering a massive chamber, a throne sat on a small island surrounded by water. Acrid steam hissed through hidden vents to fill the dark cavern. Hundreds of stalactites hung from the ceiling like giant fangs waiting to rip my flesh from my bones.

Though alone, I could sense someone watching me. My night vision was still in overdrive, but I couldn’t spot what gave me the ominous feeling. I approached the throne, taking small steps and searching the ground for traps. Once I reached the moat that surrounded the island, I saw it wasn’t filled with water, but blood. The dark, syrupy liquid ran as if flowing from the ground, though I suspected the source of the “spring” was hanging in the spiral stair. The distinct smell of iron filled my nose, which should have been a relief from the sulfur fumes, yet it only made me want to run back the way I’d come.

As I assessed my next move, I suddenly felt something behind me. Whirling, I met only empty air. All the same, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I felt a presence, full of dark power.

“I know you’re here.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. A show of strength was the only way to get through this. “Reveal yourself.”

“You would dare give orders to a god?” A cruel voice rang in my ear as I was hit across the face so hard I sank to my knees.

I lifted my eyes to the perfect face of what could only be Ares. His fair hair and tan skin seemed completely incongruous with this burrow within the earth. Seven feet tall and built like—well, like a Greek god—a portrait of him would have urged the lust of any female. However, his eyes gave him away. They were as blue as the daytime sky but sinister beyond anything I had ever seen. Hate, anger, violence—all these and more lurked within them. I had never looked upon the face of true evil. It was unrivaled in both beauty and horror, making me want to retch from the very sight of it.

“Handsome, yes?” He noted me studying his features. “I am often told I am the spitting image of my father. Though Zeus would surely say differently.”

I didn’t know how to respond without insulting one god or another, so I slowly got to my feet, consciously refusing to check the damage he’d done to my face. Meeting his eyes, I kept my head high.

“I’ve watched you for the past few hours in the valley.” He circled me, his black robes swishing around me in the dark. Standing behind me, his hot breath wafted across my neck. His hands were in my hair, removing the pins I’d used to keep the mass of waves out of my face. I forced myself to remain still, though his touch made my skin crawl. After loosening the locks until they flowed to my waist, he ran his fingers through them. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a female?” He put one hand on my neck in a vise grip and used the other to trace my collarbone, threatening to go even lower. “And here you are, a beautiful immortal just traipsing into my lair. I will grant you the honor of being my slave. And you will quench my every desire.” He punctuated the last words by ripping through my buttoned shirt.

“I thought I might run into this problem,” I said crisply, never revealing the fear that bubbled in my stomach.

“I very much doubt it. If you had, you’d never have come. Not if you knew what I have in mind for you.”

“Hmm. If the river of blood is any indicator, I think I have a pretty good idea.”

He let out a low laugh that was completely devoid of mirth. “I will enjoy breaking your spirit as I break your body.”

“Let me ask you this. Does the name Roth mean anything to you?”

His grip on my throat tightened, but I didn’t make a sound.

“What if it did?” He loosened his fingers ever so slightly. My question had piqued his interest.

“Because I’m here to make you a deal. An offer you can’t refuse.”

He snorted with derision. “You sound like Hades bartering for a soul, though you certainly don’t look like him.”

His hand tightened again, and I knew it was now or never. “Cut the crap, Ares.” I wrenched away from him. “I know you want Roth dead or alive. And I’m here to offer my services to get him for you.”

He roared with rage, shaking the very walls of the cave and bringing dozens of stalactites shattering into the ground. His hand flew to strike me again, but I made no move, just kept my steady eyes locked on his soulless ones.

I knew he wouldn’t kill me. Not yet, anyway. I was at the mercy of my instincts and trusted them implicitly.

The blow never came as the god stilled, considering my words. His light eyes seemed to grow even colder, crueler somehow, and the slight twitch of his lips told me I could continue with my plan. Bingo.